Bees Vs. Hornets: How Japanese Honey Bees Cook Invaders

May 16, 2013

Evolution of the Japanese Honey Bee

If you thought that the superior sized Hornet would defeat these bees, then get ready to learn something new and exciting about Japanese Honey Bees. The Japanese Honey bee is approximately ½ inch compared to its adversary the Japanese Hornet, approximately 2 inches. The Japanese Honey bees have evolved and developed a weapon that wont leave them defenseless like their European cousins. This hornet is in for a painful death.

Enter the Japanese Hornet: When scouting for prey, the Japanese Hornets send out a scout that will spray the Honey bee hive with pheromones. This signals and marks the hive so the hornets can easily find it.

The Warm Welcome: Knowing the scout hornet’s task, the Japanese Honey bees welcome the hornet into the nest. The hornet obliges. Once inside the nest, the Japanese Hornet begins spraying the hive with pheromones.

The Signal: In a swinging motion the Honey bees swing their abdomens thus signaling to one another the impeding attack.

The Swarm: After all of the Honey bees have been alerted they begin to swarm the scout by the hundreds and pin it down, but the bees don’t sting the hornet.

The Roasting: Once the hornet has been swarmed, the Honey bees do something only science can answer. They begin to vibrate their wings by the hundred. This raises the temperature in the hive to 117 degrees Fahrenheit. The Honey bee can withstand temperatures of 118 degrees. Unfortunately, the Japanese hornet can only withstand 115 degrees. The hornet is slowly cooked alive.

Back on the western front, Honey bees are not so lucky. Hornets and Wasps pose dangers not only to Honey bees, but to people as well. Infestations should be removed safely and effectively. Alpha Ecological can solve your wasp infestations today.